university writing 30:151

february 23rd, 2016

thesis statements

what?

why?

how?

argumentative essays

definition

what is a thesis statement?

statement of intent & purpose

purpose arises from context, but must be specified

E.G.: purpose of an expository essay

1: demonstrate comprehension of the subject

2: Engage with the text to persuade your reader

predictable pattern

shapes readerly expectations

the alignment of your purpose and your topic

the process

1: define and specify the question, problem, issue, or phenomenon you want to answer or explain 

a strong thesis arises from two things:

1: asking the right questions

2: knowing and specifying your topic

what kind of questions?

how?

why?

so what?

4 ways of thinking about the "action" of a thesis

1: making a claim

2: asserting a position / perspective

3: stating an argument

4: thesis as declaration

common problems

lack of specificity

too simplistic or obvious

presenting a problem as either/or

not an arguable claim

open-ended or unclear

restates basic information or questions 

a weak thesis anticipates an unfocused essay

a few strategies

[VIA]

make the question an assertion and briefly describe your reasoning

write a sentence that summarizes the main argument of the essay you're about to write

brainstorm a few "ways in" to your topic, and identify which claim serves as a starting point

any process arrives at a "working thesis"

"working thesis" defined

a plan you can revise as you research and write

"provisional" and subject to change

the essay must emerge from and prove your thesis

a working thesis "enables" Your essay

"roadmap"

"blueprint"

plan

Shapes or Give Directions to the outline of your essay

a working thesis is a work-in-progress

qualification and revision

Qualification is simply the process of limiting your thesis to exactly the area you choose to defend, thus making your point of view precise and reasonable. Since you cannot possibly prove [a sweeping generalization], you must indicate the degree of truth in your thesis and, if possible, the circumstances under which you are considering it.

Lucille Payne, The Lively Art of Writing

precise

reasonable

one problem:

emphasis on answers instead of good questions

examples / handout

subject-verb agreements

what is a grammatical subject?

the noun in the sentence that acts / "does something"

what is a grammatical verb?

the action that forms a part of the predicate

 The family went to lunch.

leftover lunch was eaten by our pet.

go have lunch!

what is a grammatical agreement?

a verb or pronoun takes different forms according to the subject or referent

the verb must agree with its subject in number

Far below, a landscape of rolling brown hills and small trees (LIES/Lay) among the small cottages.

 

Each of the plans (Has/Have) certain advantages.

 

Neither of the parties (Was/Were) willing to compromise. 

identify the subject

A personal trainer and a Pilates instructor Are hosting the event.

 

Coffee and tea Were served with dessert. 

A nurse and mother has many demands on her time.

 

Fries and gravy is a meal with many health benefits. 

subjects that are coordinating / correlating conjunctions

Neither the students nor the instructor was to blame.

 

Neither the instructor nor the students Were to blame. 

indefinite pronouns

some are always singular:

 

anybody, anyone, each, either, everybodyeveryone, everything, neither, none, no one, someone, something

Some of our time has disappeared.

Some of the cookies are missing.

 

All of this novel is good.

All of his novels are well written.

 

Most of the champagne was drunk.

Most of the cases of champagne have been exported.

subject following verb

There are reasons that he left his schooling early.

here are a few causes of disagreement among the sources.

why are john and jane late for supper?

questions?

Next week:

basic argumentation / rhetoric (persuasion)

argumentative fallacies

grammar:

noun (referent) / pronoun agreements

UW: Feb 22, 2016 (Thesis Statements and Argumentation)

By Trent Gill

UW: Feb 22, 2016 (Thesis Statements and Argumentation)

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